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Seminole parents organize to fight school rezoning plans

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - School rezoning took center stage Tuesday night, as the Seminole County School Board met to go over proposed maps.

Some parents are mobilizing in an effort to keep their neighborhoods intact and it could cause a major setback for the district.

Ryan Vescio described how his street could become a new boundary for two schools.

"One foot is on the Carillon new district, my right foot is on the Walker new district," said Vescio.

Vescio said his daughter would go to a different school than her best friend, who lives just 30 feet away, on the other side of the street.

"Obviously this doesn't make sense. Why would we split up friends? Why would we split up neighbors?" said Vescio.

He said that is why he and a few other parents started a group called One Neighborhood - One School.

In fewer than two weeks the grassroots effort has become 100 parents strong. And it's spreading quickly to other neighborhoods across the county, as the school board considers a number of plans that split up subdivisions.

Organizers said the group has gained its momentum through word-of-mouth conversations in person, over the phone and through social media.

A similar grassroots effort in Brevard County became so powerful that a decision to close four schools there is now on hold.

Seminole school officials told WFTV's Bianca Castro that they will make their decision by May. The growing group of parents wants to make sure their voices are heard.

"Our local elementary schools really serve as the hub where we all come together and participate, and that's not within a school board policy and it's not defined," said Vescio.

The parent group is putting a website together and is scheduling more meetings for neighborhoods throughout the county.